Austria

---

Why visit Austria?

---

Austria A contrast of spectacular natural landscapes and elegant urban sleeves; one day you are plunging into an alpine lake, the next you are exploring a narrow backstreet of Vienna. Austria is best known for its sugar-cane baroque church interiors and its historic palaces such as Schloss Belvedere and its Gothic masterpieces such as Stephansdom. A visit to Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, to Ars Electronica in Linz, or a stroll alongside the illuminated 'slug-like' Kunsthaus Graz casts Austria in a different light.
Travel in Austria is often a roundabout journey through deeply carved valleys, along roads and railways cut improbably into the rocky flanks of mountains, and around picturesque lakes. But often the landscape is simply too rocky for road or rail: hiking and mountain biking is then the best way to reach isolated alpine fields.
You can taste countries: Vienna's traditional coffee houses are perfect for breathing in the dark aromas of coffee in a homely atmosphere. Traditional bistro pubs are laced with the smell of goulash and other traditional dishes. Outside Vienna, regions such as the Waldviertel, the Danube Valley and southern Styria are places for rustic food and wine experiences in picturesque landscapes and traditional Heurigen (wine taverns) abound almost everywhere.

What does Austria bring in mind?

Schönbrunn Palace

One of the major tourist attractions in Vienna; comparable in grandeur to Versailles, this 1,441 room palace was built between 1696 and 1712 at the request of Emperor Leopold I and turned into the imperial summer palace by Maria Theresa. The Palace Park offers a lot of attractions, such as the Privy Garden, the oldest zoo in the world, a maze and labyrinth, and a marble summerhouse situated on top of a 60 meter high hill.

Hallstatt A great tourist spot is Hallstatt, a small village in the Salzkammergut region, famous for its salt production. As salt has long been a desired commodity used to preserve and provide flavor to food, the village has a long- standing history of wealth and prestige. The wealth accumulated from the salt industry transformed it into a glamorous baroque village. Visit Hörnerwerk cavern’s subterranean salt lake and see the prehistoric man preserved in salt. Truly one of the most unique places in Austria, you must experience Hallstatt.

Grossglockner Alpine Road A panoramic road that takes you up to the Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe Visitor Center. From there, you get the unobstructed view of Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner. It’s a toll road, but the fabulous high alpine scenery more than makes up for the expenses. The road is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October.

Melk Abbey

One of the most famous monasteries in the world; situated high up on cliff, overlooking the calming waters of the Danube river, rests the peaceful Benedictine abbey. Previously the castle of Leopold II, the structure was given to the monks, who transformed it into a place of tranquility and learning in 1089. The impressive spiritual center has become one of the greatest examples of Baroque architecture and the flourishing musical and liberal arts of its time.

The Vienna State Opera A stunning architectural structure in the middle of Austria’s capital, and quite possibly the most celebrated opera house of all time. The orchestra is recognized as one of the tops in the world. While there, take in one of history’s most famous operas or ballets, offered in both classical and modern versions for viewers to choose from.

Seefeld, Tyrol

Two time home to the Winter Olympics, Seefeld is an important cross-country skiing center with terrain that is compatible for beginner and intermediate skiers. Located on a spectacular nature reserve, it is the perfect spot, not only for cold-weather sports, but for warm-weather strolls and hiking. Offering the most luxuriously upscale accommodation, Seefeld is your relaxing resort getaway.

Hofburg Imperial Palace Located in Vienna, the Hofburg Imperial Palace serves as the official residence of the President of Austria. It was the Habsburg’s principal winter residence, while Schönbrunn Palace (also located in Vienna) was their preferred summer residence.

Innsbruck Altstadt

Surrounded by snowcapped mountains, Innsbruck makes you feel quite insignificant in the midst of nature’s striking Alpine mountain range. Said to have a duel personality, the area offers both pristine landscapes and a sophisticated urban center. Altstadt, the medieval town of Innsbruck, draws you in with its unique architecture and many shops. While you are strolling the streets of the Altstadt, you can visit one of its famous landmarks: the Golden Roof. This house was constructed for the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, and it was decorated with thousands of gilded copper tiles that create the appearance of pure gold.

St Anton am Arlberg Another famous ski resort area worth visiting in Austria is called St Anton am Arlberg. Located in Tyrol, this village offers serious, legendary ski terrain for those who are seeking a challenge. Often attracting adventurous youths, St Anton is notorious for living up to the saying “work hard, play hard”. The vast landscape welcomes its loyal winter crowd, as well as its summer mountaineers, who come to trek the landscape each year. If you are looking for a good time, St Anton is the place to be.

Great FUN things to do in Austria!

• Visit Vienna No trip to Austria would be complete without visiting the country’s capital city. Vienna is chock-full of things to do. Vienna is also home to the Spanish Riding School, which presents visitors with a truly unique equestrian experience.

• Tour the Future Speaking of museums, Linz, Austria’s third-largest city, offers visitors a chance to see the future before it really happens. Linz is home to the Museum of the Future, where the displays give visitors something to think about by demonstrating how technology might change the world in the years ahead.

• Get Spiritual The Benedictine Abbey in Admont, or the Admont Abbey, as it is also called, is a 1,000-year-old abbey that is crucial to Europe’s religious history. Located within the abbey’s classically structured walls is the world’s second-largest library of religious works, which miraculously survived destruction in 1865 even though the rest of the abbey fell.

• Check out Some Serious Bling The Swarovski crystal jewelers are an Austrian gem which many mistake as Swiss. The Swarovski Kristallwelten is located in Wattens, Austria, which is a quick jump out of Innsbruck.

• Go Shopping Located in Vienna, the Flohmarkt is often referred to as one of the best flea markets in Europe. It has everything, from priceless antiques to junk, and you would better wear comfy shoes because the market is huge.

• Indulge in Some Authentic Cuisine When in Austria, eat Wiener schnitzel! Wiener schnitzel is a thin slice of breaded veal served with some form of potato, and it’s Austria’s national dish. Wash it all down with Austria’s authentic soda, Almdudler, the Austrian version of cola that’s super-good!

• Work Off the Wiener Schnitzel Work off that huge plate of schnitzel by heading to Innsbruck for some hardcore hiking or skiing. Innsbruck is a picturesque Austrian city nestled between two mountain ranges. If you’re visiting Austria during the summer months, hike!

• Get REALLY Cold Eisriesenwelt, which is translated into “world of the ice giants,” is a natural ice cave system located in the Austrian city of Werfen.

• Wind Down Wind down and spoil yourself. Located in the Austrian Alps, the Aqua Dome is a crystalline spa with decadent treatments awaiting the weariest of travelers! Bake yourself in one of the spa’s textile-free saunas, then cool yourself off in a rain temple. Don’t forget the volcanic mud wrap and massage.

• Discover Viennese Vino The seven square kilometers of vineyards that lie within its boundaries make Vienna the world’s largest wine-growing capital city. On balmy summer evenings, join the Viennese for an evening in a Heuriger, one of the scores of rustic wine taverns dotted among the vineyards that skirt the Vienna Woods.

Top cities of Austria

Vienna

Vienna is packed with imperial history; at the same time, it has exciting contemporary museums, lively eating and nightlife scenes, and many quiet corners to explore. It is one of the most musical cities in the world. This is partly due to the vast number of great composers and musicians who were born here or lived and worked here. Visiting Austria's capital therefore means experiencing the works of Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Johann Strauss (both father and son), Liszt, Brahms, Bruckner and many others in venues like the Staatsoper and Musikverein. The music of Bach and Händel continues to be performed in Vienna's historic churches today, and Vienna's Collection of Ancient Musical Instruments, paired with a visit to the Haus der Musik, takes you deeper into the texture of music and how it is created. Venues for classical music are augmented by some great clubs and live rock and jazz places.

Salzburg

Salzburg is storybook Austria. Standing beside the fast-flowing Salzach River, your gaze is raised inch by inch to the Altstadt’s mosaic of graceful domes and spires, the formidable cliff-top fortress and the mountains beyond. It’s a view that never palls. As tempting as it is to spend every minute in the UNESCO-listed Altstadt, drifting from one baroque church and monumental square to the next in a daze of grandeur, Salzburg rewards those who venture further. Beyond Salzburg’s two biggest money-spinners (Mozart and The Sound of Music) hides a city with a burgeoning arts scene, wonderful food, manicured parks and concert halls that uphold musical tradition 365 days a year.

Graz

Austria’s second-largest city is probably Austria’s most relaxed. Graz is an attractive place with overflowing green parkland, red rooftops and a small, fast-flowing river gushing through its centre. Architecturally, Graz has Renaissance courtyards and provincial baroque palaces complemented by innovative modern designs.